Study shows fewer than expected using HOV lanes

NEWINGTON (AP)- A study has found that the high-occupancy vehicle lanes on Connecticut highways aren't being used as much as transportation officials had expected.

The 39 miles of HOV lanes in the Hartford region "are at least 50 percent underutilized" during peak traffic periods, according to the study.

High-occupancy vehicle lanes are supposed to be used only by vehicles carrying two or more people.

The first HOV lanes in Connecticut were built on Interstate 84 and Interstate 384 east of Hartford in 1989. Additional HOV lanes were added during a project to improve Interstate 91 north of Hartford, and those lanes opened up in 1993.

The study, filed earlier this month with the federal government, is part of a state request for federal permission and funding to study the possibility of allowing single drivers to use the lanes if they pay a toll.

About 30,000 people per day are transported by Connecticut's HOVs with 35 percent of those traveling in vans or buses.